Is it illegal to...

Arthur_Jay · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:44

Drive without a wing mirror?

Some idiot last night has taken my drivers side wing mirror off, the car isnt worth a fortune, but gets me to work and back 40 miles down the road every day.

The problem is, I cant afford to get it fixed right now, so can I drive without it?

Thats if I can even get it started, opened the door earlier, and the alarm just went off and stopped after a while so it has probably buggered the immobilisor

Dreadi · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:46

this needs to be in motors really

JUMPURS · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:46

Might be better off in motors?

IIRC as long as you have 2 rear mirrors (wing/rear view or combo) then you should be fine.

If not if the cops give you a tug, just say it only just happened officer

gumbald · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:48

I thought the law was that you have to have a driver's side mirror.

West · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:50

afaik its common sense, if you go on a duel carriageway.. well you get the rest, I think its the law you atleast need a drivers side one. Hence why some smaller cars come only with a drivers side one and a rear view... I once drove a Fiat Panda and that only had the drivers side one..

Arthur_Jay · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:50

I thought Id get a more accurate response in here, as to be honest...has nothing to do with the car...more the law

Arthur_Jay · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:53

Is a bit of gaffa tape enough to stop too much hassle....the last ting I need is to be pulled over if im running late for work

Felix Da Housecat · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:55

Not sure if it's illegal or not, but if you had a crash or cut someone up then the 3rd party and their insurance company would have a field day, as i'm sure it comes under driving without due care and attention.

Lopéz · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:55

From the MOT Manual (which is not necessarily reflective of the law, but...)

Obligatory mirrors
Obligatory mirrors are
a. an exterior mirror fitted to the offside (right-hand side when seated in the
drivers seat), or

b, an exterior mirror fitted to the
nearside fleft hand side when seated In the drivers seat), or

c. an interior mirror.

Passenger vehicles with no more than 7 passenger seats first used before 1 August 1978 must have any one of the above options.

Passenger vehicles with more than 7 passenger seats of any age, and all passenger vehicles first used on or after I August 1978 (not being a minibus as above), must have two mirrors, one of which must be option 'a'.

So, unless your car was first in use before 1978 then yes you have to have a wing/door mirror on the drivers side.

Sone · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:56

guy on our place has an FTO and hasn't had a drivers mirror for a good 3 months. Never had any trouble

DannyDan · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:59

It is illegal (and stupid) to not have a drivers side mirror.

Burnsy2023 · 27 Aug 2007 at 19:59

I'm pretty sure that the police could fine you should you get caught. Also if it's not in a 'road worthy' condition it may also invalidate your insurance.

Burnsy

Scania · 28 Aug 2007 at 06:52

DannyDan said:
It is illegal (and stupid) to not have a drivers side mirror.

Imo, the same can be said for nearside mirrors also.

For the sake of £10 from a scrappy, would you rather risk not spotting that truck that could be sneaking past?

kaiowas · 28 Aug 2007 at 09:13

DannyDan said:
It is illegal (and stupid) to not have a drivers side mirror.

What's so stupid about it? Not having a mirror doesn't automatically make you incapable of seeing what's going on around you. You just need extra care and have a quick glance over your shoulder before making manourves where you'd normally depend on the mirror.

BigglesPiP · 28 Aug 2007 at 12:17

As stated, 2 mirrors is leagal, and you can modify a car that was designed to have 3 to have 2. Because Rally cars often loose the driver side mirror in the conversion.